Activity No.

6
DNA, RNA and SNORKS

Introduction: In this simulation, you will examine the DNA sequence of a fictitious organism - the Snork. Snorks were discovered
on the planet Dee Enae in a distant solar system. Snorks only have one chromosome with eight genes on it. Your job is to analyze
the genes of its DNA and determine what traits the organism has and then sketch the organism (You can be creative here).

For simplicity, the gene sequences are much smaller than real gene sequences found in living organisms. Each gene has two
versions that result in a different trait being expressed in the Snork.

GENES AMINO ACID SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION

met-val - ser - leu hairless
Gene 1 – body covering
met-val - ser - lys hairy
met-tyr - pro - glu - glu - lys plump
Gene 2 – body style
met-val - pro - thr - glu - lys skinny
met-leu - leu - leu - pro 3 legged
Gene 3 - legs
met-leu - leu - ser - ala 2 legged
met-ala - val - val round head
Gene 4 – head shape
met-val - ala - ala square head
met-his - ile tail
Gene 5 - tails
met-his - his no tail
met-ser - pro - val blue pigment (hair/skin)
Gene 6 – body pigment
met-val - phe - tyr red pigment (hair/skin)
met-asp - ile - leu - leu - pro - thr small square eyes
Gene 7 - eyes
met-asp - ile - pro - pro - pro - thr large round eyes
met-val - asp - asp - ala small, circular mouth
Gene 8 - mouth
met-asp - asp - asp - ala large, rectangular mouth
met-phe - ser - gly pointed standing-up ears
Gene 9 - ears
met-phe - phe - gly rounded floppy ears
met-arg - tyr - cys long spaghetti-like arms
Gene 10 - arms
met-arg - arg - asp short stumpy arms

Directions: Each of the following DNA samples was taken from volunteer Snorks. The DNA was then transcribed to its
complimentary RNA strand. Your job is to:
1. Analyze the RNA sample and determine the phenotype (how the organism looks) based on the sequence.
a) Fill in the table with the appropriate amino acid and trait
b) Use the attached codon chart for help
c) Note: one or more of your Snorks may have a genetic mutation. If you find an amino acid sequence that does not
match, give your Snork a new trait! Be sure to clearly mark this change in your table.
2. After you have determined the phenotype, draw each Snork on a separate piece of paper. Be colorful and creative
3. Attach this sheet to your drawings and turn in.

Rubrics for Assessing Snorks:

NEEDS APPROACHES MEETS
Performance
IMPROVEMENT EXPECTATION EXPECTATION EXCELLENT SCORE
Indicator
5 points 10 points 15 points 20 points
Piece includes an idea but
Piece is finished but Piece includes some Piece includes many
Creativity and lacks originality and may
provides no evidence of unique ideas and several unique ideas and creative
Originality have imitated someone else’s
creativity or originality. materials were used. use of materials.
plan.
Piece is complete with
Piece is completed with Piece is complete with
Effort and substantial evidence of
Piece is incomplete. minimal effort, work is good effort, meeting all
Perseverance effort, beyond what was
somewhat careless. requirements.
required.
Piece was created as the Piece was obviously
Piece was created but does Piece was created to
Concept fictitious organism but the planned and created to
not depict the fictitious depict some characteristics
Understanding characteristics are include all characteristics
organism/s. of the snorks.
incomplete. of each of the snork.

TOTAL
Group 1 – SNICKER SNORK
Gene RNA Sequence Amino Acid Sequence Trait
1 GUC AGC AAA
2 UAC CCC GAA GAG AAA
3 CUC UUA AGU GCG
4 GCU GUU GUG
5 CAU CAU
6 GUU UUU UAC
7 GAU AUC UUA CUG CCC ACC
8 GAC GAC GAU GCC
9 UUU UCU GGG
10 AGA UAU UGU

SNICKER
SNORK

Group 2 – SNUFFLE SNORK

 Gene RNA Sequence Amino Acid Sequence Trait
1 GUA UCU AAA
2 GUU CCU ACU GAA AAG
3 CUU CUC CUC CCC
4 GUU GCG GCU
5 CAU CAC
6 GUA UUU UAU
7 GAU AUU CUU CUG CCC ACA
8 GUU GAC GAC GCA
9 UUC UCG GGU
10 AGA UAU UGU

SNUFFLE
SNORK

Group 3 – SNAPPY SNORK

Gene RNA Sequence Amino Acid Sequence Trait
 1 GUC AGC CUU
2 GUU CCC ACA GAA AAA
3 CUC UUA AGU GCG
4 GUU GCG GCU
5 CAC AUU
6 UCU CCC GUA
7 GAU AUU CCC CCC CCC ACC
8 GAU GAC GAC GCA
9 UUC UUU GGG
10 CGC CGG GAC

SNAPPY
SNORK

Group 4 – SWAGGY SNORK

Gene RNA Sequence Amino Acid Sequence Trait
1 GUA UCC CUC
 2 UAC CCC GAG GAA AAA
3 UUA UUA CUG CCC
4 GCU GUU GUA
5 CAU AUU
6 UCU CCC GUA
7 GAU AUU CUU CUG CCC ACA
8 GUU GAU GAU GCC
9 UUU UCU GGU
10 CGC CGU GAC

SWAGGY
SNORK